Self-loading truck

ABSTRACT

A self-loading truck having many uses and particularly suitable for transferring the contents of containers onto a truck and restoring the empty containers alongside the path of travel. Swivelling boom means operating in view of the truck driver and controlled by him while seated at the driver station includes both manual and semi-automatic controls for picking up containers from either side of the truck and emptying them into the cargo compartment by self-centering boom control means. The boom components are powered by pressurized fluid supplied by a driving engine which speeds up and resumes idling automatically during the cargo handling cycle. For trash handling operations, the power boom is supported on one forward corner of the truck chassis for swivelling movement cross-wise of the truck in full view of the driver and operates to dump trash into the truck from containers resting at the curb on either side of the street.

United States Patent 1191 is n 5] Oct. 16, 1973 SELF-LOADING TRUCK [75]Inventor: George W. Morrison, Seal Beach, Pnmary Exammer Gel-aldForlenza Calif Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Oresky Attorney-W. D.Sellers et al. [7 3] Assignee: Maxon Industries, Inc., Huntington Park,Calif.

[22] Filed. July 12, 1971 ABSTRACT [2]] Appl. No.: 161,683

A self-loading truck having many uses and particularly [52 11.8. c1214/302, 214/763, 214/765, Suitable for transferring the eerlterrre efeerrteihere 214/147 G onto a truck and restoring the empty containersalong- [51] Int. Cl B65f 3/02 Side the Path of travel- Swiveuing boommeans Opera 58 Field of Search 214/302, 313, 775, ing in View of therruek driver and eehtrelled by hirrr 2 4 77 180/77 H while seated at thedriver station includes both manual ,eeh ie 2r eti e tre w el t g eerein ['5 R f r Cited from either side of the truck and emptying them intoUNITED STATES PATENTS the cargo compartment by self-centering boomcontrol means. The boom components are powered by 1 pressurized fluidsupplied by a driving engine which 3:563:l37 2/1971 Graber ct 214/763speeds up and resumes idling automatically during the 3,506,149 4/1970Gray 214/764 cargo handling cyclehandling perationsr 2,975,851 3/1961Youmans et al 180/77 H the Power boom is PP One fmward Comer 3,014,34412/1961 Arnot 214/674 of the truek chassis for swivellirrg movementCross- 3,604,577 9/1971 Heilmeier 214/308 wise of the truck in full viewof the driver and oper- 3,241,687 3/1966 Orloff 214/147 G ates to dumptrash into the truck from containers rest- 3,339,763 9/1967 Caywood eta1. .Q 214/672 at the curb on either ide of the street 3,446,377 5/1969Heinert 214/302 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10 Claims, 3 DrawingFigures 797,644 10/1968 Canada 214/77 R PATENTEDUCT 16 1913 SHEEI 1 0f 4I NVEN'TOR.

660565 W MOEF/SO/V PATENTEDnm 16 ms SHEEIZBF 4 INVENTOR. 660266 WMOEE/SOA/ A TTOZ/V V5 PATENIEDMI 16 ms SHEEI 30F 4 INVENTOR. 650,566 WMOEE/SO/V 4 M A TTOZA/EVS sum or 4 PATENTEDBCT 1s m;

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SELF-LOADING TRUCK This invention relates to trucks, and moreparticularly to a truck equipped with unique self-loading meanscontrolled by the driver seated at the drivers station and capable ofpicking up and dumping the contents of containers from either side ofthe street into the truck and returning the containers to curbside.

Many proposals have been made heretofore for cargo trucks with loadingmeans mounted on the truck and powered either by the truck engine or byan auxiliary engine. Usually the loading means are mounted across eitherthe front or the rear of the truck although certain proposals have beenmade for attaching the loader to some intermediate part of the truck.These loaders utilize various expedients for transferring cargo fromground level onto the truck and are subject to numerous shortcomings anddisadvantages eliminated by the present invention.

For example, prior loaders customarily required a crew of men with eachtruck including a driver and one or more workmen who gathered the trashor the like and manipulated it onto the loading equipment after whichthe controls were actuated to elevate and deposit the trash onto thetruck. In many cases, the trash must be lifted into bins, hoppers orother receiving receptacles which is then elevated to the top of thetruck and overturned or otherwise manipulated to deposit the contentsonto the truck. Other equipment makes use of power conveyor equipmentfor advancing the material from a low level into the truck.

A particularly complex and costly problem greatly simplified by thepresent invention is the collection of trash from residences and placesof business. For the most part this material is bulky, light in weightwith volumes of voids. The economical collection and handling of thismaterial presents many frustrating problems which are greatly minimizedby the present invention. A one-man crew suffices to drive thecollection truck and to operate all controls without moving from hisdriving station. A swivelling pivoting boom equipped with unique jawmeans is easily manipulated to pick up trash containers from either sideof the street and to lift them to a self-centering dumping positionfollowing which the container is up-ended to dump the contents into thetruck for compaction and stowage using conventional packer equipment.The empty containers are then returned to curbside.

The boom is controlled primarily by a joy stick type operator effectiveto move the outer end of the boom in or out, to the right or to the leftand up and down depending upon the movement of the joy stick in thesesame directions, the operator simply moving his hand in the particulardirection he wishes the boom to move. Alternatively, the boom may beoperated automatically through the major portion of its cycle simply bypressing an automatic control button and holding it in this positionuntil the desired portion of the automatic cycle has been completed.

The various reversible motors employed to operate the boom are actuatedby pressurized fluid supplied by a pump powered from a driving engine.The control circuit for these auxiliaries responds automatically totheir actuation to accelerate the engine so long as there is need forpressurized fluid and to restore it to idling thereafter. The automaticpositioning means for the boom while in its container dumping positionoperates to center the boom automatically as it approaches dumpingposition thereby avoiding risk of damage to the equipment or dumping thecontainer contents while misaligned with the truck inlet. The onlyportion of the cycle requiring reasonably close attention by theoperator is that of engaging the container initially.

Accordingly it is a primary object of the present in vention to providea new and improved self-loading truck all operations of which arecontrollable by the driver while seated at his driving station.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a self-loading cargotruck manned and operated by a seated truck driver.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cargo truckequipped with power driven boom means operating crosswise of the frontof the truck and functioning to pick up containers from either side ofthe street and to transfer their contents onto the truck without needfor workmen to touch the containers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a trash pick uptruck equipped with powered loading means for lifting trash containersfrom street level to a dumping position onto the truck and for thentransfering the container back to curbside.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a truck having acargo handling boom equipped at its outer end with container engagingmeans operable to hold the container upright while elevating it to adumping position and thereafter upending the container to deposit thecontents onto the truck before returning the empty container to theground.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a container handlingboom readily convertible to handle containers of different size.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a truck self-loaderselectively controllable manually and automatically as respects a majorportion of its opera tion.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a truck loading boomcontrollable from a joy stick arranged to drive the boom in the samedirection of movement as taken by the joy stick.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading thefollowing specification and claims and upon considering in connectiontherewith the attached drawing to which theyrelate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing one illustrative embodiment ofthe invention installed on a trashgathering truck and showing theself-loading boom lowered to engage a trash container and indicating indot and dash lines the position of the boom while emptying thecontainer;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary smaller scale top plan view of the inner frontcomer of the truck shown in FIG. 1 and including the same full line anddotted line views of the loading boom;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view on an enlarged scale of the outerend of the boom and including a dotted line showing of the containerclamping jaw pivoted to its fully open position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 onFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of theswivelling assembly supporting the lower end of the boom means;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a suitable control console for theself-loading equipment suitably mounted adjacent the right hand of theoperator while seated at the truck driving station;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section taken along line 7-7 onFIG. 6 showing details of the joy stick control for the self-loader; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic of the electrical and hydraulic control componentsfor the self-loading boom.

Referring initially more particularly to FIG. 1 there is shown anillustrative embodiment of the invention mounted on the chassis of atrash pick up truck 10 having an enclosed trash storage chamber 11 andprovided across its forward upper end with a trash inlet opening 12. Itwill be understood that the interior of compartment 11 is equipped withany suitable trash compactor equipment powered with a multi-statehydraulic ram 13 having its forward end pivotally connected to a bracket14 rigid with the truck chassis.

The forward end of truck chassis 10 extends forwardly of the steerablefront wheels 15 and may be stepped downwardly to provide a support for alonger boom and the truck engine enclosed within housing 18. Theenclosed driver station 19 occupies the left hand forward corner of thechassis whereas the right hand forward corner 20 is reinforced andprovides a support for swivelling boom means designated generally 22.

The main body of boom 22 comprises an outer tubular housing 24telescopically supporting therein an inner tube 25 shown fully retractedby a double action cylinder 26. The lower end of cylinder 26 is pivotedto the interior of boom housing 24 by pin 27 whereas its forward end issimilarly connected to tube 25 by pin 28.

The rear end of boom housing 24 is pivotally supported on a pin 30mounted crosswise of the upper end of a strongly constructed yoke 31.The lower base end of yoke 31 is swivelly supported on a bearing plate32 for movement about a vertical axis under the control of a reversiblehydraulic motor 35. The details of the swivel support for yoke 31 willbe described in greater detail presently in connection with FIG. 5.

The vertical pivoting movement of the boom is controlled by a doubleaction hydraulic cylinder 38 having its rear end pivoted to yoke 31 andits forward piston rod end pivoted to a bracket 39 welded to theunderside of boom housing 24. In its full line showing, cylinder 38 isfully retracted whereas the dot and dash line showing indicates theextended position of the cylinder with the boom elevated to its dumpingposition with respect to inlet 12 of the trash storage chamber.

Journalled crosswise of the outer end of the boom is a generallyU-shaped frame 40 designed to pick up a container 42 for trash or otherloose material to be loaded into the truck. One leg 44 of pick up frame40 is pivotally connected to the remainder of the frame by pivot pin 45(FIG. 3) and is operated by a double action hydraulic cylinder 46 havingone end pivoted to the main frame at 47 and its other end pivoted to jaw44 by pivot pin 48.

The container pick up frame 40 is readily convertible to handlecontainers of medium or very large size by the simple expedient ofattaching or detaching a set of supplemental jaws 50,51,52. These jawsare loosely connected to brackets 53,54,55 the outer ends of which areheld detachably assembled to main frame 40 and pivoting jaw 44 by capscrews 56. As herein shown,

brackets 54 and 55 are interconnected by an arcuate connector 58.

When the smaller set of clamping jaws 50,51,52 along with theirsupporting brackets 53,54,55 are detached, the container pick upassembly 40 is adapted to pick up containers of much greater capacityutilizing the outer set of container clamping pads 60,61,62. These padslikewise have limited self-aligning movement in support brackets securedto jaw 44 and main frame 40.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 3, it will be understood that thecontainer pick up main frame 40 is secured to the outer end of the boomtube 24 by pivoting knuckle means including a smaller and a larger yoke65,66 held pivotally assembled by shaft 67 of a reversible hydraulicmotor 68. It will be understood that frame 40 can be moved to or held inany desired pivoted position at the outer end of the boom by motor 68and its control valving to be described below in connection with FIG. 8.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 5, the variable axis swivelassembly for the lower end of boom 22 will be described. It will beunderstood that the bight portion of yoke 31 telescopes over an uprightrigid shank welded to an annular mounting flange 76 bolted to the truckframe by bolts 77. A ball-bearing race assembly 79 is mounted betweenflange 46 and a ring 80 secured by bolts 81 to the base of yoke 31. Athrust bearing assembly designated generally 83 is held assembled overthe upper end of shank tube 75 by bolts 84. Extending downwardly throughshank tube 75 is a large diameter shaft 86 of the reversible hydraulicmotor 35. The upper end of shaft 86 is welded to the thrust bearingassembly 83 and its lower end is anchored to the chassis frame by across brace 87. It will therefore be clear that, depending upon thedirection of the flow of pressurized fluid through motor 35, shaft 86operates to pivot the entire boom assembly, including yoke 31, either tothe right or to the left crosswise of the front end of the truck.

The permissible limit of pivotable movement of the boom is indicated byarrow 90 in FIG. 2 and is dependent upon the location of the boom withrespect to other subassemblies on the front of the truck. As isindicated by the arrow in FIG.-2, this are is approximately 180 degreesbut can be increased by the simple expedient of locating yoke 31 furtherforwardly on the truck chassis.

The are of vertical pivotal movement is likewise dependent on thelocation of the trash inlet 12 for storage compartment 11. As hereinshown, the arc of upward pivotal movement is somewhat in excess ofdegrees. The inlet 12 for the storage compartment preferably projectsforwardly of the compartment proper to provide a larger hopper mount andits forward edge is notched, as is indicated at 92 in FIG. 2, toaccommodate and guide the boom as it swings rearwardly toward dumpingposition. The edge of this notch may diverge toward the inlet endalthough this is not particularly necessary since the boom may beoperated and accurately guided into dumping position by automatic meansassuring that it will be properly positioned for entrance into the notchas it is being elevated.

CONTROLS Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, suitable controls for theself-loader will be described. In control console 95 there is auniversally support joy stick 100 on a ball 101 enclosed within aflexible dirt guard bellows 102. The shank of the joy stick includesouter and inner tubes 103,104 having limited telescopic movementrelative to one another and relative to the vertical rod 105 to whichthe ball joint 101 is secured. A compression spring 107 is mountedwithin the inner tube 104 with its upper end bearing against a stopfixed to this tube and its lower end bearing against a pin 108 having afriction fit with openings in tube 103. This pin has a loose sliding fitalong aligned slots 109 in tube 104. Likewise, a second pin 110 has apress fit with tube 104 and extends loosely through an elongated slot111 lengthwise of rod 105. Normally, pin 110 is held pressed against theupper end of slot 111 by a compression spring 112 encircling rod 105with its upper end bearing against the lower end of tube 104 and itslower end bearing against a stop 113 fixed to rod 105.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the hand grip at the upperend of joy stick 100 is held resiliently in a neutral position bysprings 107,1 12. If the joy stick is pulled upwardly, spring 107 iscompressed, whereas if it is pushed downwardly, spring 112 iscompressed. When the joy stick is pulled upwardly, the L-shaped bracket115 fixed to tube 103 engages and closes the normally open actuatorbutton 116 of microswitch S1. Likewise if the joy stick is pusheddownwardly, bracket 119 fixed to tube 104 engages and closes theoperating button of the normally open microswitch S2. In like manner itwill be understood that movement of the joy stick forwardly orbackwardly as well as to the right or to the left of the truck, pivotsthe lower end of the joy stick into operating engagement with arespective normally open microswitch supported below the ball and socket101 and to hold that switch in closed position so long as the joy stickis held in an appropriate position. Unless the joy stick is deliberatelyshifted away from its vertical neutral position to which it is biased bysuitable means, all switches in its path of control will be in theirnormal neutral or open position.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a schematic of the hydraulic andelectrical controls associated with console 95 and joy stick 100. )twill be understood that switches S1,S2,S4,S5,S6,S7 are operable by joystick 100. Each of these switches is a normally open microswitch and canbe closed by appropriate manipulation of the upper end of the joy stick.For example, if the operator wishes the boom to move up he elevates thejoy stick upwardly in opposition to the above described spring 107 untilbracket 115 attached to the stick engages the operating button 116 ofswitch S1 (FIG. 7). Alternatively if he wishes to move the boomdownwardly, he depresses the joy stick in opposition. to spring 112(FIG. 7) so that bracket 119 engages switch S2 and closes it.

Microswitches S4 through S7 are shown only in FIG. 8, but it will beunderstood they are positioned opposite the lower end 105 of the joystick below its pivot 101, the double bladed switch S4 controllingextension of the boom being closed as the stick is moved forwardly, andthe similar switch S5 controlling contraction of the boom being closedif the joy stick is pivoted in the opposite direction toward the rear ofthe truck. Microswitches S6 and S7 are closed depending on whether thejoy stick is pivoted to the operator's right or left to swivel the outerend of the boom to the right or left hand side of the path of travel.

The double bladed switch has its upper blade normally open and its lowerblade normally closed and effective to supply power to a pair of mercuryswitches SBA and 88B adjustably mounted as shown in FIG. 3 on the frameof the container pick up device 40. Switch 88A is normally openedwhereas switch 883 is normally closed. These switches operate to controlthe reversible fluid motor 68 pivoting the container clamping jaws tothe outer end of the boom as the boom is being elevated to keep thecontainer in an upright position until it is in the position fordumping.

Switch S10 in the grip of the joy stick is a double throw toggle switchnormally in an upright neutral position and which can be closed ineither direction to operate the container clamping cylinder 46controlling the pivotal movement of leg 44 of the pick up device 40.Thus as the switch is closed in one direction the jaw 44 pivots towardthe container and if it is operated in the other direction the jawpivots away from the container to release it. Desirably the jaw isequipped with a stop limiting its gripping movement to avoid risk ofdistorting the container.

Before proceedingwith a detailed description of an operating cycle itwill be understood that various ones of the switches control relays topower circuits some of which control the operation of conventionalfour-way valves blocking all flow to the associated motor when thevalves are in their normal neutral position. The valve spools can beheld in either of their extreme positions so long as a respectiveoperating solenoid is energized. The control four-way valve for eachmotor is designated by the same reference character distinguished by aprime. For example, four-way valve 38 in the upper portion of FIG. 8controls the operation of reversible motor 38 for elevating and loweringthe boom. The pressurized inlet to this valve is shown as connected tothe outlet of the fluid pressurizing pump whereas the fluid returnconduit will be understood as connected to the fluid reservoir. Althougha separate pump is shown associated with each valve it will be un'-derstood that a common pump is employed and driven by a power take offfrom a suitable engine.

Normally it is desirable that the truck engine be operating at asuitable speed while applying pressurized fluid to an operatingcomponent and this result is assured by an automatic motivator assemblyoperable in response to a demand for pressurized fluid to open athree-way solenoid valve 131 to supply pressurized air to actuatingcylinder 132 thereby to operate a linkage 133 connected to the engineaccelerator. Thus, when solenoid 131 is energized motor 132 operates toadvance the accelerator and increase engine speed while cutting off theatmospheric vent. When the solenoid is de-energized, a spring retractsthe accelerator linkage to restore the engine to idling speed and toopen the vent to the atmosphere from the spring-biased motor 132. Thenormally open toggle switches S14 and S15 will be observed as connectedin circuit with solenoid 131 and these provide the operator with meansfor actuating the motivator manually at any time irrespective of othercontrols and irrespective of whether the boom is operating underautomatic or manual control.

BOOM OPERATING CYCLE Normally the truck travels with the boom fullyretracted to the position indicated in dot and dash lines in FIG. 1, aposition controlled by a normally closed limit switch S13 positioned tobe engaged and opened as the boom reaches its travel position as switchS3 is held closed. The driver stops the truck rearwardly of a container42 and, master switch S12 being closed, the main power lead A to each ofthe microswitches and other control components is energized. The systemis now armed and in readiness to operate. Since the boom must first belowered, the operator grasps the hand grip of the joy stick 100 andpivots it forwardly thereby closing switch S2 to energize relay R3shifting the spool of four-way valve 38 to the right and supplyingpressurized fluid to the upper end of boom operating cylinder 38. Fluidfrom the lower end of cylinder 38 escapes back to the reservoir and theboom continues to lower toward the position shown in FIG. 1. As soon asthe boom moves away from its fully elevated position and from controlsS9 of switch S9, switch S9 assumes its normal position shown in FIG. 8thereby de-energizing relay R6 and placing mercury switches SSA and SSBin control of the container level control motor 68. In this manner thecontainer supported in the clamping jaws 40,44 is automatically returnedto and remains in an upright position during substantially the entirelowering operation of the boom.

During the lowering movement, the operator can swing the boomhorizontally to the right or to the left simply by shifting the joystick to the right or left while continuing to hold it in a forwardposition to maintain the boom lowering motor energized. If the stick isshifted to the left, switch S7 is closed to activate the left handcontrol solenoid for four-way valve 35' controlling boom swivellingmotor 35. Should the operator maintain the joy stick to the left untilthe boom has swung to the limit of its leftward movement, arm 135 rigidwith the shaft of motor 35 will contact the normally closed limit switchS18 to de-energize the left solenoid of four-way valve 35' allowing thatvalve to return to its neutral position. Likewise had the right handsolenoid been energized, the boom could continue to swing rightwarduntil the associated right limit switch S17 opens. As the containercomes to rest on the ground the operator operates toggle switch S on thehand grip of the joy stick in the direction to energize the openingsolenoid of four-way valve 46' thereby admitting fluid to motor 46 (FIG.3) to open jaw 44 and release the container.

If container 42 is filled with material desired to be dumped into thetruck, the driver simply moves the truck forward until the opencontainer pick up jaws 40,44 are astride the container whereupon heoperates switch S10 on the hand grip of the joy stick in a direction toactivate motor 46 to close jaw 44 against the container and then allowsthis switch to return to its neutral position as he pulls the joy stickbackwardly to close the boom up control switch S1. When this occurspower is supplied to the up solenoid of valve 38' thereby admittingpressurized fluid to the lower end of cylinder 38 (FIG. 1) to elevatethe boom. As soon as the container is off the ground, the operator canpivot the joy stick to the leftsince this is necessary to bring theouter end of the boom, as shown in FIG. 2, to a proper dumping positionrelative to the truck inlet 12. Switch S7 is thereby closed to energizethe left" solenoid of valve 35 controlling the boom swivelling motor 35,as was true when closing other of the boom operating switches.

Once the container has been engaged, the remainder of the elevating andmaterial dumping cycle may be carried out automatically by closing theautomatic switch S11 conveniently located on the control console 95.Switch S11 may be spring biased to its open position and held closed bydepressing the switch until the container has been dumped. So long asswitch S11 remains closed, bus line B is energized. In consequence,relay R2 is energized to supply power to the up solenoid of valve 38'controlling boom elevating motor 38. At the same time power is suppliedvia relay R2 to solenoid valve 131 activating the motivator to speed upthe truck motor. Likewise power is supplied from bus B to relay R4closing that relay and supplying power to valve 26 driving motor 26 toretract the boom should it be in any extended position.

Another lead supplies power from bus B to energize relay R5 therebysupplying power to microswitches S19 and S20 associated with a pair ofcams 140, 141 fixed to the shaft of boom rotating motor 35. As shown inFIG. 8, the boom motor is rotated to a position in which the boom isaligned with notch 92 (FIG. 2) wherein it is properly positioned to dumpthe container into the storage compartment. In these circumstances, bothof the switches S19 and S20 are in open position and energized relay R5is ineffective to supply power to either solenoid of valve 35' for motor35. However, if the boom happens to be misaligned in any degree and ineither direction from its dumping position, then the associated highportion of either cam or 141 will hold the appropriate one of switchesS19 or S20 closed until the misalignment has been corrected. If the boomrequires rotation slightly to the right to be in alignment with notch92, then switch S19 will be in closed position to supply power throughclosed switch S17 to the right hand solenoid for valve 35. Accordingly,fluid will be supplied to rotate the boom until the actuator for switchS19 rides off the high side of cam 140 permitting this switch to openand deactivate the motor. A similar operation will occur if the boomneeds to be rotated to the left.

During elevation of the boom, power supplied through the normally closedcontact of switch S9 supplies power to the self-levelling switch 88A and88B to rotate the container levelling motor 68 in the direction and asnecessary to maintain the container in an upright position. When theboom is fully elevated, the boom will contact the actuator S9 for switchS9 and shift this switch to its alternate position closing its normallyopen contacts, and opening its normally closed contacts. Upon closing ofthe normally open contacts, power is supplied from bus line B toenergize relay R6 and supply power in a path bypassing the levellingswitches 88A and 88B and in a manner energizing the up coil of the valvefor levelling motor 68'. Accordingly, this motor continues to rotate thecontainer against a stop opposite its full dumping position.

At the end of the dumping cycle the operator releases or opens theautomatic switch S1 1 and manipulates the joy stick to return the boomto its down position so that the container is returned to its originalposition on the ground in an upright position. If the operator prefersto carry out the entire operation using his manual controls, he leavesthe automatic switch S11 open and manipulates the joy stick as describedabove. As the boom approaches notch 92 at its dumping position, it isguided into the inner end of the notch and as it approaches thecontainer dumping position, the boom engages button S9 to close switchS9 supplying power from bus line A through switch S16 to bypass themercury levelling switches to energize the up solenoid for motor 68 sothat the contents of the container are dumped into the truck.

While the particular self-loading truck herein shown and disclosed indetail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing theadvantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merelyillustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention andthat no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or designherein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An engine-powered self-loading trash truck driven and loaded by thetruck driver while seated in a truck driving station, said truck havinga chassis with a pair of steerable front wheels and a pair ofengine-driven rear wheels supporting the respective ends of a largetrash storage chamber having a top inlet, a driving station and a boomsupporting station forwardly of said steerable front wheels on theopposite forward corners of said chassis, extendable boom meanssupported close to street level at one forward chassis corner and infull view of the driver seated at said truck driving station, drivercontrollable power means for extending and pivoting said boom meanshorizontally in the lowered position thereof crosswise of the forwardend of said truck and including means to pick up an unattached trashcontainer at ground level from either lateral side of said truck, powermeans for pivoting said boom means and a trash container carried therebyupwardly and rearwardly, and power means on said boom means forthereafter upending a trash container and dumping its contents into saidstorage chamber inlet.

2. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 1 characterized in theprovision of a manually operable control means for said boom meansbeside a seated driver in said driving station and normally biased to aneutral position, said control'means including means manually shiftablein opposite directions along three axes at right angles to one another,said control means including switch and control means operativelyconnected to the respective ones of said power means operable to extendand retract said boom means and to pivot it in either direction aboutthe vertical and horizontal axes thereof and corresponding to thedirection in which said manually shiftable means is shifted.

3. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 2 characterized in theprovision of manually operated switch means and associated meansconnected to the power operating means for said boom means and operablewhen activated by the operator to operate said boom means through anautomatic cycle which includes retraction of the boom, pivoting the boomhorizontally in either direction to a preselected position, pivoting theboom vertically upward to a preselected container dumping position, andthereafter upending a container to dump its contents into said storagechamber inlet.

4. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 3 characterized in that saidmeans for upending a trash container includes reversible motor means andcontainer level control sensing means for maintaining a containerupright while being elevated to dumping position, and means fordeactivating said level sensing control means and for activating saidcontainer upending power means in a direction to dump a container whenthe container is in a preselected elevated position opposite saidstorage chamber inlet.

5. A self-loading truck as defined in claim ll characterized in thatsaid power means for upending a trash container includes reversiblemotor means and container level control sensing means operable to drivesaid container upending motor means in either direction as necessary tomaintain a container generally upright while being elevated to saidstorage chamber inlet.

6. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 5 characterized in theprovision of means for deactivating said level control meansautomatically as said boom means reaches a dumping position at saidstorage inlet and for activating said container upending power means todump the container contents into said inlet.

7. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 1 characterized in theprovision of hydraulic pump means driven by said truck engine to supplypressurized fluid to operate each of said power means for said boommeans.

8. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 7 characterized in theprovision of means responsive to the actuation of said power means forsaid boom means to increase the fuel supply to said engine so long assaid boom means is in operation and for restoring said fuel supply toengine idling requirements when said boom means is not in use.

9. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 1 characterized in that saidcontainer pickup means includes a pair of power-operated clamping jawsfor gripping and releasing a trash container supported on the outer endof said boom means by reversible motor means having a horizontal axisand operating to rotate a container in a vertical plane about said motoraxis.

10. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 9 characterized in theprovision of container level control sensing means for operating saidmotor means to maintain a container upright until elevated above saidstorage chamber inlet, and means responsive to the arrival of acontainer to said upending position to deactivate level control meansand utilizing said motor means to upend a container and dump thecontents thereof into said storage chamber inlet.

1. An engine-powered self-loading trash truck driven and loaded by thetruck driver while seated in a truck driving station, said truck havinga chassis with a pair of steerable front wheels and a pair ofengine-driven rear wheels supporting the respective ends of a largetrash storage chamber having a top inlet, a driving station and a boomsupporting station forwardly of said steerable front wheels on theopposite forward corners of said chassis, extendable boom meanssupported close to street level at one forward chassis corner and infull view of the driver seated at said truck driving station, drivercontrollable power means for extending and pivoting said boom meanshorizontally in the lowered position thereof crosswise of the forwardend of said truck and including means to pick up an unattached trashcontainer at ground level from either lateral side of said truck, powermeans for pivoting said boom means and a trash container carried therebyupwardly and rearwardly, and power means on said boom means forthereafter upending a trash container and dumping its contents into saidstorage chamber inlet.
 2. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 1characterized in the provision of a manually operable control means forsaid boom means beside a seated driver in said driving station andnormally biased to a neutral position, said control means includingmeans manually shiftable in opposite directions along three axes atright angles to one another, said control means including switch andcontrol means operatively connected to the respective ones of said powermeans operable to extend and retract said boom means and to pivot it ineither direction about the vertical and horizontal axes tHereof andcorresponding to the direction in which said manually shiftable means isshifted.
 3. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 2 characterized inthe provision of manually operated switch means and associated meansconnected to the power operating means for said boom means and operablewhen activated by the operator to operate said boom means through anautomatic cycle which includes retraction of the boom, pivoting the boomhorizontally in either direction to a preselected position, pivoting theboom vertically upward to a preselected container dumping position, andthereafter upending a container to dump its contents into said storagechamber inlet.
 4. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 3characterized in that said means for upending a trash container includesreversible motor means and container level control sensing means formaintaining a container upright while being elevated to dumpingposition, and means for deactivating said level sensing control meansand for activating said container upending power means in a direction todump a container when the container is in a preselected elevatedposition opposite said storage chamber inlet.
 5. A self-loading truck asdefined in claim 1 characterized in that said power means for upending atrash container includes reversible motor means and container levelcontrol sensing means operable to drive said container upending motormeans in either direction as necessary to maintain a container generallyupright while being elevated to said storage chamber inlet.
 6. Aself-loading truck as defined in claim 5 characterized in the provisionof means for deactivating said level control means automatically as saidboom means reaches a dumping position at said storage inlet and foractivating said container upending power means to dump the containercontents into said inlet.
 7. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 1characterized in the provision of hydraulic pump means driven by saidtruck engine to supply pressurized fluid to operate each of said powermeans for said boom means.
 8. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 7characterized in the provision of means responsive to the actuation ofsaid power means for said boom means to increase the fuel supply to saidengine so long as said boom means is in operation and for restoring saidfuel supply to engine idling requirements when said boom means is not inuse.
 9. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 1 characterized in thatsaid container pickup means includes a pair of power-operated clampingjaws for gripping and releasing a trash container supported on the outerend of said boom means by reversible motor means having a horizontalaxis and operating to rotate a container in a vertical plane about saidmotor axis.
 10. A self-loading truck as defined in claim 9 characterizedin the provision of container level control sensing means for operatingsaid motor means to maintain a container upright until elevated abovesaid storage chamber inlet, and means responsive to the arrival of acontainer to said upending position to deactivate level control meansand utilizing said motor means to upend a container and dump thecontents thereof into said storage chamber inlet.